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Knives Out Movie Watch Order in the correct order

How to watch the Knives Out Benoit Blanc mystery movies in order

Last updated: April 30 2026

Written by: ChronoBob

Rian Johnson's Knives Out series follows the suave Southern detective Benoit Blanc through a new whodunit mystery with each film. Each movie is a standalone puzzle, but watching them in order lets you appreciate how the series evolves and deepens.

Writer-director Rian Johnson reinvented the murder mystery genre with Knives Out (2019), a wickedly clever film starring Daniel Craig as the genteel detective Benoit Blanc. Rather than building a continuity-heavy franchise, Johnson crafts standalone mysteries — each with a fresh cast, a new setting, and a unique structural twist that subverts audience expectations. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) proved the formula could evolve brilliantly, and the series shows no signs of slowing down.

🕐 Release Order

Because each film is a self-contained mystery, release order is also the only order — there are no prequels or timeline complications to worry about. Simply follow along as each new case arrives.

  1. Knives Out (2019)
  2. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

A third Benoit Blanc mystery, currently titled Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, is in production and expected to arrive on Netflix. This guide will be updated once it releases.

📖 Story Chronology

The films share only Blanc himself — there is no overarching narrative that connects the mysteries, so story chronology matches release order exactly.

  1. Knives Out (2019) — Blanc investigates the death of crime novelist Harlan Thrombey
  2. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) — Blanc is invited to a billionaire's private island murder mystery

Which Order Should You Choose?

Start with Knives Out (2019) — it's a masterclass in the genre and introduces Blanc's delightful Southern charm. Glass Onion can be watched independently (and many Netflix viewers did just that), but audiences who have seen Knives Out first will better appreciate how Johnson uses Blanc differently in each outing. Both films reward repeat viewings once you know the twist — so don't be afraid to go back and spot the clues you missed.

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Did we miss anything? Let us know and we'll keep this guide up to date!